“San Francisco is really divine… The streets are steep like Edinburgh and Chinatown right in the middle of everything. There’s a Rock just outside the town by the Golden Gate covered with seals! They’re so sweet.” – Noel Coward, 1926 letter to his mother
One of the best tastes at 8/20 SF Street Food Fest: Don Bugito's candied mealworms over toffee ice cream... shocking how tasty worms can be: crispy, salty, sweet!
I hope your fall is off to a sweet start… Adventures in Colorado with family (a write-up on favorites there forthcoming), busy at home with the wonderful SF Cocktail Week starting 9/19… then I am off to Bordeaux, France, until the beginning of October to meet with winemakers and explore the region. Another intensely beautiful season of experiences, people, sights and tastes I will never forget.
For those in the Bay Area, pick up a copy of this week’s Guardian for my article on three local, family-run wineries you should know about (p. 24-26).
Top Tastes samples a crazy range of chicken wings and hot sauces, “Korean fusion”, playful hot dogs with Queens roots, and crunchy chocolate caramels.
Imbiber sips St. George’s three fabulous new gins, unlike any you’ve tasted before.
Massive walls of barrels at New Midleton Distillery (home to Jameson Irish Whiskey) in County Cork, Ireland (see "Wandering Traveler")
Imbiber, part two, introduces you to three unique, small production, family-run wineries you should know about, from SF to Calistoga.
Wandering Traveler heads to Ireland for a private tour of New Midleton Distillery, home to Jameson and a number of Irish whiskies.
Visiting Swanson's Sip Shoppe in Napa (see "Imbiber", part two)
On the Town previews next week’s SF Cocktail Week. It was an unforgettable time last year, and this is bigger than ever. I hope to see you there!
On the Town, part two, reviews the first in a series of Chefs Night Off dinners from a husband/wife chef duo with a resume that includes Michael Mina and Coi.
I’d love your feedback on any spots visited from my site. As your personal concierge who tells it to you like a good friend would, I also create personalized itineraries: trips, meals, explorations (under “Services“).
Let me guide you to the perfect spot,
Virginia
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ThePerfectSpot
Follow my “best of” lists on NBC’s The Feast
Recent entries in my Bay Guardian column:
What Not to Miss During SF Cocktail Week (starting 9/19)
Generation Cork: 3 Local Family Wineries
3 New Gins from St. George
Chefs Night Off Pop-up Dinners
Refreshing the Starlight (Room)
**Unless otherwise noted, all photos by Virginia Miller**